It's funny reading 03 reviews and seeing people complain about Phish jamming too much.
Excellent improv throughout this show, one of the best YEMs post-90s, a Scents that was completely blown out into the astral plane. One of the most inventive Chalkusts ever, a Twist around for the ages.

Flash forward 7 years, sneak this show into summer tour 2010 and it'd be the most beloved show of the tour. Secret Smile and all. It has something for everyone, but for some reason people chose to pour negativity into everything Phish did in the 2.0 era, developing stupid opinions that had little to nothing to do with the imaginary drop off in musical quality from 2000 to 2003. This show is a shining example of just how powerful the catharsis of stepping on stage was for Phish in those days. Everyone seems to take it the wrong way. This music is so dense and interesting because it's the sound of four guys stepping into their safe place and poring passion into every note. When the average review features people moaning about flubs in songs they never cared about instead of celebrating this fascinating brand of improv, it's clear why Phish recognized a massive disconnect between themselves and their aspiring Us Weekly beat writer fan base.

Miles Davis life was spiraling out of control pretty much his entire career. The heroin and busted-lip hookers and hustlers lurking behind every note. Someone alert huh..everyone that his musical value needs to be diminished by shit that really isn't any of everyone's concern.

Dark, dark, dark. If you like 2003 then this show is money in the bank; otherwise you're advised to steer clear, as this is 151-proof Summer '03 midnight madness. So many dark '03 jams were resolved with performances of Bug; this version of Twist is a perfect illustration of why that move was necessary. The half-hour Scents is tempestuous and imperfect and wonderful; Walls gets (surprise!) dark to close the show; late-Set II YEMs are always a little wild, and this one's no exception. If you care about the covers then these covers are something you'll no doubt care about, but it's the long aggressive jams that make this show. The runup to IT was excellent and this is the gnarliest of the pre-Limestone shows. Enjoy.

This show is dark and wonderful. Full of Type II bliss. This show has gotten many mixed reviews and is one of the shows that I like talking about the most. It's so amazing on one hand and so very dark and odd on the other.

All in all, best Scents and Subtle Sounds ever, period. The S&SS jam is actually one of my favorite jams of all time.

After listening to my favorite show of the summer, so far (7.29), I was pretty stoked to queue up the next two shows in New Jersey. In all honesty, I was familiar with their setlists and the lore behind them, but I had never really given either of them any sort of extended attention. So, I listened to the 30th and 31st back-to-back (this review will only cover the 30th, the next the 31st) but I figured they were on a roll after the 29th, and I was genuinely curious to see how the momentum would build leading up to the famous, the infamous El Guap... uhm, IT. What's amazing, not that this is news to any fan, is that Phish can be a shining ray of light one night, and ecliptic psychedelic black hole the next. The 30th is the latter, juxtaposed against the former. So if you like "dark Phish" strap yourself to an ACME rocket, channel your inner WILE E. COYOTE, and prepare for blastoff.

A menacing (and bust-out) My Friend My Friend sets the opaque tone for the evening in dramatic fashion. The crowd exploded, and how could they not? A mere 20 hours removed from the still-smoldering wreckage left behind in Pennsylvania, the latent energy was palpable. MFMF channeled that into a furiously dark show opener. And then just like that, the lights went on. A goofy AF Lonesome Cowboy Bill, the first in about a billion shows, drops into the two slot and at this point everyone has got to be thinking, "Another bust out set!! JUST LIKE LAST NIGHT!!!" Well, at least I was thinking that. Sure enough, Phish proves that there is no point prognosticating their style, angle, whathaveyou and proceed to drop a thirty (30) as in 3-0 minute Scents and Subtle Sounds. Oh nothing to see here folks. ::ahem:: But here is what is interesting. I went back and listened to this jam not once, not twice, but three times. Now, you must be thinking, "Dang Funky, it is THAT good eh?" Well, yes... but no. I went back and listened to 90 more minutes of Scents and Subtle Sounds because, well, I forgot what this jam offered... again... and again. Some jams *stick* with you, you know? Nassau Tweezer. Utah Mr. Completely. Burgettstown Crosseyed. Forum Gin (I had to). But this one... just didn't. I wasn't high. Not drunk. Not anything. But this jam never settled in me. Ths SASS, for as long as it is, is almost boringly good. Is it bad? No way. Dark and dissonant? Not so much, no. Upbeat and bouncey? Kinda, but no. Shreddy? Definitely not. So what is it? It's a mix of foggy tropical; bright clouds; black lava. Think of two mental images, one bright and one dark, then mash them up, and that's what this jam is. It is captivating, yet forgettable. Oddly weird. To add to the weirdness, Phish premiers Dylan's You Aint Goin Nowhere after this Odyessian Scents, referencing very clearly the "IT" line, and the weirdness continues. Spock's Brain. See??? Phish must have said preshow, "Let's try the "random setlist generator" on phish.net and see what happens!" Spock's Brain was a real treat (a song I have personally been chasing since forever). An extended Chalk Dust comes in next and gets real dark, real fast. Unlike the extended shiny, peppy first set version from Charlotte, this one goes down the rabbit hole. Filled with distortion and terror, this is primal jaunt through your nightmares. Well no it's not that bad, but it is a gritty, gnarly version (we shall discuss the stuff of nightmares when we get to IT ... ahhh foreshadowing). A super groooooovy On Your Way Down brings us back to some sort of "sanity" and this set already feels like it is 2 hours long. It is a mental trip, that's for sure. Heavy, heavy set... and we're not done yet. Fast Enough For You is the next song performed and when you see it on the setlist, you think, "Oh, pretty!" Nah uh, not this one. Trey grinds his guitar and kinda butchers this version. It's not what FEFY is "supposed" to sound like (dreamy and fluttery and pretty) ... it is dark, and scary. Thankfully a really smokin Taste closes the set and, dang, what a journey this has been. Taste is very very strong (2003 was a great year for Taste) and this one is no different. As a whole, this set is crazy, demented, weird Phish. Not bad Phish, not by a long shot, but just.... weird. Oh, and the second set is 4 songs...

Uh huh. So I am sure you can put the pieces together. A dystopian first set followed up by 4 song second set. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO! Please bring lots of carrots, we may never get out. This 23 minute Twist follows almost verbatim the same pattern as that first set Scents. Except this is darker. Much darker. For me, I am not a fan, it's a little *too* mental for me. If I was on heavy substances, I would have asked security to escort me to the nearest beer stand and get me a warm blanket (you know the feeling). Pure. Terror. But again, this might as well be a My Little Pony dream since we haven't reached IT yet. The jam settles into Bug which was a sobering placement. Bug was played with inspiration and triumph, a nice little reprieve from the depths of this show. But even then, given the mid-second set placement (heh... it is the second song, so "mid" feels wrong, but it isn't) the set (and show) still has this dark cloud over it. YEM does a fantastic job of letting in some sunlight and this is a sparkling version. Great Fishman work propels this jam to some good peaks. Not on par with 2.26.03, 12.1.03, or 7.19.03, this version still brings some heat. Especially since Trey keeps striking again and again at the peak...wish he'd do that now... siiiiiiiggggghhhhh. Anyways. YEM finally relents (after some especially tribal bass and drums and TERRIFYING vocal jam) and we get a perfunctory (said tongue in cheek) smokin hot, raging Walls of the Cave. This version might just singe your ear drums. It is fantastic! Great show closer! A great way to make us feel happy and upbeat after a deep, menacing psychedelic show. A Secret Smile encore was underwhelming. Pretty song, no doubt, but as a standalone encore, well, it left a little to be desired. No *real* complaints though, as this show packed in two shows worth of "whoa." Whether that's good whoa or bad whoa, I shall leave up to you.

Must-hear jams: Scents and Subtle Sounds (I think?), Twist (if you're into super dark Phish)
Probably-should-listen-to-jams: Chalk Dust Torture, Taste, You Enjoy Myself, Walls of the Cave

I remember this night fairly well. My friend and I drove from Okla. to catch IT festival and stoped at the Camden show. Having seen over 80 shows since 94 I am no newby.
This is one of the darkest shows I've ever seen Phish play. It was incredible Looooooong jams, strange setlist, and nods to the festi we were all waiting for. You ain't Goin Nowhere was a strange but appreciated cover. Hadn't heard Spocks Brain since '95. The second set was a melt down. Anyone complaining about only 4 songs played weren't listening to what they did with those songs. Lame encore, but I was puddled. Thank you boys.

(Published in the second edition of The Phish Companion...)

So far this summer, I had been to the Alpine and Deer Creek shows, and was really feelin’ the tour – much improved since the Winter, in my opinion. I live in the Philly/Camden area and was excited to be seeing a show in my home town, not to mention that it was the last "venue" shows of the tour.
My friends got searched and stubbed. I got searched, and I was ready to be stubbed, when the ticket ripper said, "Sorry, this is a ticket for tomorrow night. Nice try."
I realized that I must have taken the wrong ticket. My ticket was at home. I was standing there with a ticket to the next night. I stood there blankly for a moment, until it actually hit me that I might not be seeing the show. I argued and argued with the woman, begging her to let me in, explaining my mistake. No luck. I finally give up - I'm not getting into this show. Oh well, shit happens. Such is the way of the world (and careless people). I started to walk away, depressed. All of a sudden, in front of my eyes appeared a mail order ticket. I grabbed it out of what seemed like thin air. I turned only to catch my benefactor walking into the show without wanting any thanks. I'm not sure what he was still doing with an extra at this point (why didn't he sell/miracle it already?), but he anonymously decided to give it to me. I guess miracles do happen.
This night was interesting and everyone seems to have a different opinion of it. “My Friend” opener was certainly a treat, and got the energy going. Some uncommons/rares in the first set were a treat too, such as “Spock's Brain” and “Lonesome Cowboy Bill”. My highlight was the “Scents and Subtle Sounds”. Unlike a lot of people, I've really been impressed with (most of) the new material. It seems like they've been writing "jam vehicles" rather than actual songs, abandoning the epic, extremely technical sections of old, and instead writing relatively simple songs which allow them to fully explore the deep unknown of music. Ever since I first heard “Scents”, I felt like this song had serious potential, and the jam that came from this show's confirmed it. As they had been doing recently, they totally digressed from “Scents”, and truly traveled the seas. They did it again with the “Chalk Dust” (they also did this is on 7/10/99 in Camden).
Many people were disappointed with the rest of the show. A four song second set gave us some great, long jams, including a rockin' “YEM” (with a very creepy vocal jam). Still, the few number of songs and the “Secret Smile” encore left most fans wanting more.

This is one of my favorite '03 shows. Given the more accessible show of the previous evening, and the accessible show of Camden N2, this surely was a WTF show for those who attended all 3. A somewhat dark MFMF really kicks of the theme of the show, followed by a bust-out of Lonesome Cowboy Bill. After that comes arguably the best SASS of 2.0 (one could argue that the Camden '04 one is better - either way, Camden got both of the best versions of 2.0 SASS). 30 minutes of just solid, bad-ass playing and jamming. The way I know that this version is awesome is by the fact that this SASS doesn't seem to last 30 minutes, but rather, a lot shorter - if you listen to nothing else from this show, listen to this SASS, which is easy to find on youtube. Next comes a debut of Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere". Surely, at this point, the crowd must be really tripping out. Then comes the second bust-out of the night in Spock's Brain. While there was only a 35 show gap, Spock's Brain had been last played about 3 years prior, so maybe it counts as a bust-out, but enough with semantics. Spock's segues into a nice CDT that, like the rest of this show, gets dark in places. Then comes bust-out #3 - On Your Way Down, a nice bluesy number that brings a bit of light into this dark espresso of a show. The FEFY is pretty standard here, with a nice > into Taste. Overall, the first set is a mindf***. Great stuff, though!

If you thought the first set was dark, you're in for a helluva ride in this 2nd set. The Twist to kick this 2nd set off is one of the darkest versions they've done, albeit a damn fine version, if I say so myself. This Twist is a tad futuristic in that the jam sounds VERY much like June '04 - this Twist would not have sounded out of place in any June '04 show, I'll put it that way. Anyways, it's a great version and one of my all-time favorite Twists. The Bug here is pretty standard, but a great song to hear and like On Your Way Down did in the first set, brings some light into an otherwise darkAF set. Now on to this YEM - one of their finest versions, IMO, and my favorite of 2.0 (sorry, 2/26/03, but you're a close 2nd). Kick-ass high energy funk jamming in here, and the band sounds like they're having a great time with this one. Beware of the vocal jam - spooky as hell and DARK - probably freaked out some of the more dosed phans that were in attendance (just an assumption on my part since I'm a sober phan). The set closes out with a nice WOTC, with nice 2.0 style jamming to boot. The encore is the weak spot of this show - I'm just not a big Secret Smile fan, but I also never judge a show by the encore.

All in all, this show is one of the finest 2.0 has to offer. If you don't like 2.0, don't bother with this one - you're better off listening to the night before in Burgettstown or the Camden N2 - since this show will make you hate 2.0 even more if you don't like 2.0 already. If you like the crazy, dark, tripped out stuff 2.0 offers, then snag this one if you haven't already. KILLER SHOW, and highly recommended from me.

Feel the need to clarify my earlier review for the historical record: the jamming was dark in the second set; the first set was quirky and enjoyable. Those who love 2.0 understandably enjoy the second set. For me, personally, Trey looked haggard and frail. Admittedly pure speculation on my part, but I felt you could see that the opiate use and other personal issues were taking a toll. Generally, speaking I love to embrace a philosophy of "It's all good!" And generally with Phish it is. But this show was difficult for me to watch.

The end of the 2003 Summer Tour was the peak of 2.0. This show being a great example.

You get a Lonesome Cowboy Bill bustout followed by a massive SASS. This is likely the best version ever played, and it is in the early stage with the original intro. It starts off fairly sloppy but picks up pace very fast. Fish's drumming during the jam (and the whole show) is phenomenal it is at this stage where I think he played the best he ever will. The jam morphs into a big thrashing jam with Fish just destroying the drum set. It goes into the debut of You Ain't Going Nowhere and a beautiful debut at that. This is followed by yet another rarity in fan favorite "Spocks Brain". Chalkdust is also a very good version, it does not drift off far like the IT version the following week but it is very very strong on its own. The rest of the set is fairly straight forward but well played.

Twist comes out of the 2nd set strong picking up full steam and going into yet another intense jam. It then proceeds to go off into an intergalactic trance for a while before it ends. Bug is one of the best ever versions very inspired. The YEM after is one of the best if not the best of 2.0 very strongly played version. This 4 song set is concluded by an explosive Walls of the Cave (the same strong playing you get from it all year).

The only downside to this whole show is the choice for Secret Smile as an encore. Maybe the guys thought they were so destructive in their playing during the two sets that they needed to end things on a mellow note? Not necessarily my cup of tea as I wish they'd continue the intensity (maybe with character zero or other such songs). But it also can be noted that I'm not a Secret Smile fan to begin with. None the less this does not begin to blemish my love for this fantastic show.

5 Stars!

I feel a lot differently about the 7/30/2003 show in Camden now than I did when I was actually there. I had witnessed the paramount show the night before in Burgettstown and was still in a state of shock. I was meeting my sister in Camden along with other friends and family from Jersey and PA. My brother in law Kyle actually predicted before the show that they would play Spock's Brain, just because of all the recent bust outs.

I apparently got into the wrong line coming into the show because it took forever to get in the gate. This hold up caused me to miss the My Friend, My Friend opener, so I was a little bummed out about that.

I met my friend Tania out on the lawn during Lonesome Cowboy Bill. I had worked with her and steered her musical interests into the Phish world, so it was nice to see her at her first show.

Scents and Subtle Sounds was spectacular. I always liked the dark reggae groove that opens the song and did not like how Phish rearranged the song later on without it. Anyway, this version has it and it is THE quintessential version of this song.

I like You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and it reminded me of a song my Dad would play. As soon as they hit the opening notes of Spock's Brain I hi-fived Kyle right away for nailing it. The rest of the set had some definite highlights such as the cool Chalkdust, the bust out On Your Way Down, a soothing Fast Enough For You, and a solid Taste to close the set.

The second set is what I like a lot more now at this stage of my life than I did when I was younger and at the show. Twist, Bug, YEM, and Walls of the Cave comprised the entire second set and the band journeyed all over the dark and spacy void. It was a completely different kind of show than Burgettstown was, which left me a little disappointed at the time. The Secret Smile encore put the nail in the coffin for me. I couldn't believe that one.

But as I stated, the show sounds much better to me now when I listen to it objectively instead of how I felt in the moment. I still like the second night much better though.

SET 1: My Friend, My Friend: My Friend, My Friend: Great song, great opener. Nice and sinister, just the way I like it! Raging My Friend. I was a little surprised it was played so well, having not been played in a while (1/2/03). Great My Friend.

Lonesome Cowboy Bill: Another first timer for me! The boys are on a V.U. kick huh? After this, even on the soundboard, you can really hear this guy bellowing for Forbin’s. Comical. Was played for the first time since October 31, 1998 (173 shows).

Scents and Subtle Sounds: Wow. Great Placement. Jammed to high heaven and back. Small but noticeable lyric flub at 4:29. This jam really is not for the faint of heart! I personally enjoyed it throughout but can understand people getting bored with it. I think it takes a lot of balls for the band to go out on a limb with a song that is still in the infancy stage. This tune has already come a very long way since Phoenix! At 21 minutes this jam is really going into some very cool directions. 25.5 sees the jam starting to break down a bit, w/ Fish pounding away. Hard, hard edge here.

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere: Had no idea what this was at the time. Listening to it on disc I cannot say if I have ever heard the Dylan version or the Byrds version either. Nice IT reference! Concert debut.

Spock's Brain: My fourth one oddly enough out of the ten times it has been played. Nice bustout but the flow of the first set (to me) is all disjointed (kind of like this song) at this point. >

Chalk Dust Torture: Now we are talking! Could it be another 7/10/99? Um, not quite. Although this is a very fired up version of Chalkdust. This Chalkdust pretty much steps on your neck and demands attention, high energy and hard rocking. Sweet.

On Your Way Down: Was played for the first time since October 2, 1999 (108 shows). Excellent blues licks by Trey and the vocals by Page are great ? really a nice song to feature Leo’s strong singing capabilities on. Great stage for Page! Plus some downright nasty Trey jamming at the end here.

Fast Enough for You: What can I say, I am a total sucker for this song. It gets be every time, from the first time I heard it live at 8/13/96 I knew this song would be one of my favorite ballads. Smoking solo by Trey here, great FEFY.>

Taste: Another Taste? This tune really needs a break, I think. Fired up Taste, but aren’t they all?

SET 2: Twist: This Twist is a little bit unique though in that it maintains a distinct hard edge to it for the majority of the jam. Far too many Twists I have seen float into an annoying ambient space that does nothing for me. This one though is serious arena rock. Lots of distortion guitar licks from Trey in here. At 12 minutes Page starts incorporating some interesting effects that are soon accompanied by Trey. Again, very unique but not for the faint of heart.

Bug: Nice. Love a good Bug. This is definitely a good if not great one. Really blistering guitar by Trey on this one, arena rock. Really ripping version.

You Enjoy Myself: A lot of discussion before they finally bust out the opening notes. Sounds like someone on stage wanted to save this but who knows. Nirvana segment is super spacey. Page brings crazy funk during the tramps segment, just thick funk. Post tramps, Mike and Page are tearing this bad boy up. Cactus is just laying down some of the sweetest bombs I have ever heard. Meanwhile Trey is picking on some of the sweetest chords. This band is in the zone. From here on out it is Trey just blazing through it all. Mr. Machine Gun Trey at his finest. This was my favorite YEM of the tour, it had everything. Very spacey nirvana segment, the slithery funk and the rock. Don’t count it out yet though, the drums and bass segment were awesome. Mike’s new bass tone takes center stage and he and Fish just lay it down. The vocal jam is absolutely trippy as hell with CK5 just blowing minds left and right. I felt downright violated after this VJ. Sick. Sick.

Walls of the Cave: Interesting and ballsy choice of songs here. Especially since the one they played in Philly on 2/25 was so good. This WOTC is ripping again some serious Trey arena rock going on here - machine gun Trey.

ENCORE: Secret Smile - No. Oh my goodness. Worst encore ever and that’s saying a lot as 2003 was littered with questionable encore selections. I have never heard Phish booed before, but people were booing as loud as possible after S.S. was over.

Replay value: Scents and Subtle Sounds, Chalk Dust Torture, Twist, You Enjoy Myself

Summary: At the time, this show was quite frankly one of my least favorites of the tour. I mean, I was coming off a show that I considered one of the best I had ever seen, and expectations were ridiculous. So, I thought this show was uneven. But over the years, it has grown on me much like 2.20.03. We made our way into the lot and stayed until we got kicked out around 2:30. All I can say is WAWAWAWAWA. Camden is scary. I would grade this show as a 4.4 out of 5.

This show is an odd duck at least in the fact that the "strong meat" (to misquote the Apostle Paul) seems to be skewed towards the first set. My Friend, My Friend and Lonesome Cowboy Bill are nice enough, with a particularly nice turn on vocals by Jon Fishman in Lonesome Cowboy Bill, but Scents and Subtle Sounds includes the Intro and is over 30 minutes long. There's nothing compelling in the way that I remember the 6/11/94 You Enjoy Myself to this day, for example, but it is a good journey, thrilling, perhaps, for those in attendance. Then you get the Phish debut of You Ain't Goin' Nowhere followed by the extreme rarity Spock's Brain. Chalk Dust Torture also jams for a while followed by On Your Way Down, Fast Enough for You > Taste, with the first two of those being highly welcome and rare additions to the 2.0-years catalogue. Twist in the second set jams out and then some, and the improvisation is really quite thrilling, perhaps evinced by the follow-up number: Bug, but You Enjoy Myself and Walls of the Cave don't really strike me as a fitting conclusion to this show. Secret Smile in the encore slot is very welcome, to me, as I'm a more mellow kind of phan, and, all said, I certainly would'n't've left this show disappointed.

After listening to my favorite show of the summer, so far (7.29), I was pretty stoked to queue up the next two shows in New Jersey. In all honesty, I was familiar with their setlists and the lore behind them, but I had never really given either of them any sort of extended attention. So, I listened to the 30th and 31st back-to-back (this review will only cover the 30th, the next the 31st) but I figured they were on a roll after the 29th, and I was genuinely curious to see how the momentum would build leading up to the famous, the infamous El Guap... uhm, IT. What's amazing, not that this is news to any fan, is that Phish can be a shining ray of light one night, and ecliptic psychedelic black hole the next. The 30th is the latter, juxtaposed against the former. So if you like "dark Phish" strap yourself to an ACME rocket, channel your inner WILE E. COYOTE, and prepare for blastoff.

A menacing (and bust-out) My Friend My Friend sets the opaque tone for the evening in dramatic fashion. The crowd exploded, and how could they not? A mere 20 hours removed from the still-smoldering wreckage left behind in Pennsylvania, the latent energy was palpable. MFMF channeled that into a furiously dark show opener. And then just like that, the lights went on. A goofy AF Lonesome Cowboy Bill, the first in about a billion shows, drops into the two slot and at this point everyone has got to be thinking, "Another bust out set!! JUST LIKE LAST NIGHT!!!" Well, at least I was thinking that. Sure enough, Phish proves that there is no point prognosticating their style, angle, whathaveyou and proceed to drop a thirty (30) as in 3-0 minute Scents and Subtle Sounds. Oh nothing to see here folks. ::ahem:: But here is what is interesting. I went back and listened to this jam not once, not twice, but three times. Now, you must be thinking, "Dang Funky, it is THAT good eh?" Well, yes... but no. I went back and listened to 90 more minutes of Scents and Subtle Sounds because, well, I forgot what this jam offered... again... and again. Some jams *stick* with you, you know? Nassau Tweezer. Utah Mr. Completely. Burgettstown Crosseyed. Forum Gin (I had to). But this one... just didn't. I wasn't high. Not drunk. Not anything. But this jam never settled in me. Ths SASS, for as long as it is, is almost boringly good. Is it bad? No way. Dark and dissonant? Not so much, no. Upbeat and bouncey? Kinda, but no. Shreddy? Definitely not. So what is it? It's a mix of foggy tropical; bright clouds; black lava. Think of two mental images, one bright and one dark, then mash them up, and that's what this jam is. It is captivating, yet forgettable. Oddly weird. To add to the weirdness, Phish premiers Dylan's You Aint Goin Nowhere after this Odyessian Scents, referencing very clearly the "IT" line, and the weirdness continues. Spock's Brain. See??? Phish must have said preshow, "Let's try the "random setlist generator" on phish.net and see what happens!" Spock's Brain was a real treat (a song I have personally been chasing since forever). An extended Chalk Dust comes in next and gets real dark, real fast. Unlike the extended shiny, peppy first set version from Charlotte, this one goes down the rabbit hole. Filled with distortion and terror, this is primal jaunt through your nightmares. Well no it's not that bad, but it is a gritty, gnarly version (we shall discuss the stuff of nightmares when we get to IT ... ahhh foreshadowing). A super groooooovy On Your Way Down brings us back to some sort of "sanity" and this set already feels like it is 2 hours long. It is a mental trip, that's for sure. Heavy, heavy set... and we're not done yet. Fast Enough For You is the next song performed and when you see it on the setlist, you think, "Oh, pretty!" Nah uh, not this one. Trey grinds his guitar and kinda butchers this version. It's not what FEFY is "supposed" to sound like (dreamy and fluttery and pretty) ... it is dark, and scary. Thankfully a really smokin Taste closes the set and, dang, what a journey this has been. Taste is very very strong (2003 was a great year for Taste) and this one is no different. As a whole, this set is crazy, demented, weird Phish. Not bad Phish, not by a long shot, but just.... weird. Oh, and the second set is 4 songs...

Uh huh. So I am sure you can put the pieces together. A dystopian first set followed up by 4 song second set. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO! Please bring lots of carrots, we may never get out. This 23 minute Twist follows almost verbatim the same pattern as that first set Scents. Except this is darker. Much darker. For me, I am not a fan, it's a little *too* mental for me. If I was on heavy substances, I would have asked security to escort me to the nearest beer stand and get me a warm blanket (you know the feeling). Pure. Terror. But again, this might as well be a My Little Pony dream since we haven't reached IT yet. The jam settles into Bug which was a sobering placement. Bug was played with inspiration and triumph, a nice little reprieve from the depths of this show. But even then, given the mid-second set placement (heh... it is the second song, so "mid" feels wrong, but it isn't) the set (and show) still has this dark cloud over it. YEM does a fantastic job of letting in some sunlight and this is a sparkling version. Great Fishman work propels this jam to some good peaks. Not on par with 2.26.03, 12.1.03, or 7.19.03, this version still brings some heat. Especially since Trey keeps striking again and again at the peak...wish he'd do that now... siiiiiiiggggghhhhh. Anyways. YEM finally relents (after some especially tribal bass and drums and TERRIFYING vocal jam) and we get a perfunctory (said tongue in cheek) smokin hot, raging Walls of the Cave. This version might just singe your ear drums. It is fantastic! Great show closer! A great way to make us feel happy and upbeat after a deep, menacing psychedelic show. A Secret Smile encore was underwhelming. Pretty song, no doubt, but as a standalone encore, well, it left a little to be desired. No *real* complaints though, as this show packed in two shows worth of "whoa." Whether that's good whoa or bad whoa, I shall leave up to you.

Must-hear jams: Scents and Subtle Sounds (I think?), Twist (if you're into super dark Phish)
Probably-should-listen-to-jams: Chalk Dust Torture, Taste, You Enjoy Myself, Walls of the Cave

this was a solid show. After hopping on at Star Lake, we made our way to the rough areas of Jersey known as Camden prior to heading up to Limestone. This show was just tons of fun. So many kiddies had no idea half of the covers of the first set and the Spock's was acknowledged, but went over most of the noobs' heads (much like Destiny at the 02.28 Nassau show earlier in the year that I caught) and received a joyous welcome from older fans.

The Friend opener was well performed, followed by a wonderful Bill cover to keep the pace. Scents just blew everyone away; for most it was their first Scents experience, but others were aware of the potential from Deer Creek. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere was just from left field and I still to this day believe that it was only used because of the lines
"We’ll climb that hill no matter how steep
When we get up to it"
The ChalkDust was double time and extremely exploratory (akin to the '99 Camden CDT and I will always tie it to the version a couple days later at IT and the 03 NYE run) to bring the tempo back up. The On Your Way Down followed and was well placed to advance the roller coaster ebb and flow of the set. FEFY was also well placed and questioned the audience after a wonderful set, only to lead into a very well performed, high energy Taste to close the first stanza.

The second set, well...we'll just say it was awesome. Not a big fan of the song choices, but the areas explored by the guys that night was blissfully wonderful. I don't know of many folks who weren't turned on by this that night. Even a mother of a young fan (who I would presume was their first show) got into the mix with the YEM and acknowledged that it "must be a fan favorite" by the roar it received upon the opening notes. Monster Twist, a solid Bug, wonderful jam on YEM and Walls. Unfortunately we were given a Secret Smile encore, but the show was stout, as were many shows on this Summer 03 tour, which is severely underrated.

This was a curious show. I remember the first set being very mellow. Everyone has preferences about what kind of Phish they want to hear but I’ve always felt that having no expectations and an open mind are just as important as wearing comfortable shoes. I recall some heads sitting nearby complaining about how the show was lagging. I understand where they were coming from but the band up there playing for 3 hours straight each night on tour and doing so better than anyone in the crowd so it always made me wonder how anyone could have a complaint about song selection. I felt that Fast Enough For You was a perfect response to the beginning of the show. It made me laugh and appreciate the music even more.

Scents and Subtle Sounds was the highlight for me. I had a version that I downloaded from Kazaa lite from one of the July shows. Not sure which. I was really drawn in by the opening of the song. The spacey weirdness was so unique and dark. I love the way Page’s keys create a vast bubble that Trey’s notes ping pong within. Its slinkiness and space between the notes makes me shimmy the way that only their beautiful music can. The double meaning of the word scents or sense is a reflection of speaker’s relaxed message and questions asking “what does it mean to you?” The second part of the song has a definite Who influence. The drumming in particular. It launches you into the colorful void that is the third movement. I was super stoked to hear this again a couple days later at IT. That weekend was a recorded rainbow of joy that I like to go back and visit from time to time.

First set flowed nicely and featured lots of fun numbers. The Friend opener was raging. Second set was the first time I was ever truly disappointed at a Phish show. Thank goodness those days are over!